Furnace for burning hydrocarbon oils



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

J. SCHINNELLER.

FURNAGE F0 R BURNING HYDROGARBON OILS. No. 434,092. .Y Patented Aug. 12.1890.

2 Sheets-'Sheet 2.

i, a l

WM A www@ Patented' Aug. 12, 1890.

J. SGHINNELLER. PURNA-B FOR BURNING HYDRARBON OILS. No. 434.092.

UNITED STATES i PATENTY OFFICE.

JACOB SCH'INNELLER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE FOR BURNING HYDROCARBONMOILS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,092, dated August 12, 1890. v

Application filed April 19, 1889. Serial No.307,665. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB SCHINNELLER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces for Burning Hydrocarbon Oils; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to furnaces for burning liquid hydrocarbons for metallurgical and other purposes, its object being to provide a suitable furnace in which the oil-vapor and air can be so intermingled and heated before combustion that a perfect combustion of the hydrocarbons is obtained in the furnace.

My invent-ion relates to the apparatus described in an application for Letters Patent for process of burning` hydrocarbons filed by me December 19, 1888, Serial No. 294,072, the process described and claimed in said application consisting, generally stated, in dropping the oil upon a mass of heated balls or lumps of refractory material and drawing air through said refractory material, so intermingling the oil-vapor and air and passing the same from and burning it at the lower or delivery end of said mass.

My present invention consists, generally stated, in a furnace for metallurgical or other purposes having a heating-chamber, an entrance flue or flu es at the end thereof,a chamber containing a mass of balls or blocks of refractory material above the flues and having air-entrances therein, and an oil-entrance at or above the chamber, whereby as the oil is sprayed or dropped from the oil-entrance it will percolate between the balls or blocks contained in the chamber and be intermingled with the air therein and be brought into proper condition for combustion at the lower end of the chamber, the intermingled air and oil-vapor being burned in the entrance-lines to the heating-chamber.

It also consists in certain other improve ments relating to the heating of the air, the regulation of the flow of the oil and arto the chamber, and the changing of the position of the balls or blocks of refractory material, as will be more fully described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make l and use my invention, I will describe the.

same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections illustrating my invention as applied where the air is heated or where simply cold air is employed for the purpose, and Fig. 3 is a crosssection on the line no Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each. Y

My invention, as shown, is applied to a metallurgical furnace-such as for puddling and melting iron-having the hearth or furnace-chamber a, the stack or escape-flue b, which leads to such a height or through such a length of flue `(when a single chimney is employed for a number of furnaces) that a continuous draft can be maintained through the furnace, and in that way the oil-vaporv and air can be drawn into the entrance end of the furnace, so as to be burned at the entrance end of and within the furnace-chamber.

At the entrance end of the furnace-chamber are a series of combustion-fines c, the entrance-flue being preferably divided into a series of flues, as shown, by brick or tile eX- tending longitudinally of the furnace, for the reason that a support is thus obtained for the blocks or balls of refractory material in the vaporizingchamber cof the furnace, and that the ame is the better confined and controlled within this series of flues. At the entrance end of said flue c there is the inlet c', which communicates with either an air-blast pipe or with the atmosphere, a blast or simple draft being employed, as may be desired, said airinlet c being controlled by a valve c2, and, if desired, the air-inlet being divided into several sections corresponding to the series of fines c, so as to regulate thev combustion within the different fines of the series.

If desired, in order to provide at all times sufficient air to form complete combustion, as well as to prevent the high heat generated therein from melting out the ilues c, the wall a2, supporting brick or tile dividing the flues, maybe made comparatively thin and exposed -on its lower surface, and inletpassages c3 eX- tend up through this wall into the flues c, the ingoing air thus aiding in cooling the wall a2.-

The supply of air through these passages c3 ico can be controlled by the door c4, communicating with the space under the wall a2.

Extending above the combustion-fines c is the easing d, either formed of metal and suitably lined with fire-brick or built entirely of fire-brick, as may be desired, and so forming the chambere, which in the desired construction is open at the upper or entrance end and lower or delivery end thereof, and is filled, as shown, with a mass composed of balls, blocks, or lumps of lire-brick or other refractory material. I prefer to employ refractory balls g for the purpose, for the reason that they provide for the change inthe position of the refractory material within the chamber without great labor, as by opening the lower part of the chamber esuch as by withdrawing the block d, closing the port cl2 at the base of the said chamber e--the balls can be rolled out ofthe chamber and upon the platform f, and

- of the chamber to provide for the introduction of such balls where heated air is employed in connection with the furnace, and said port being closed by a block or plate f2. For this purpose the walls of the chamber e are preferably made downwardly daring, as shown, so that there is no opportunity forthe balls or blocks g to bridge within the same, and such portion of the balls as it may be desired to remove' from the chamber can easily be rolled therefrom onto the platform. By this means I am enabled to withdraw the balls from the lower part of the chamber close to the combustion-lines c, when they are highly heated by the heat from said flues, and then vquickly vaporized and intermingled with the air, while at the same time as the heavier portions of the oil which are not vaporized will adhere to the balls or blocks, such balls or blocks are brought to the lower part of the chamber, where they are subjected to the high heat generated in the combustion-fines, and any such tar or heavy hydrocarbon adhering thereto may be burned from the same.

Arranged at or above the upper end of the chamber fis the oil-supply pipe h, controlled by a suitable valve h. This pipe has suitable perforations or openings therein, which permit of the dropping or spraying of the oil directly upon the fire-clay balls, so that .oil dropping upon the upper end of said body of refractory material will pass between the balls composing the same and descend through the chamber e, the oil coating to some ext-ent the different balls, and also being vaporized by the heat thereof, while the draft through the furnace will draw air through said body of refractory material and intermingle it with the oil-vapor, so that the intermingled oilvapor and air will finally pass from such chamber e into the combustion-lines c and be burned therein, a further portion of air being added to it, if desired, through the air flue or entrance c. In order, however, to provide for the regulation of the supply of air to and the proper intermingling thereof with the oil-vapor,`I have formed along the sides of the chamber e a series of iues m, which extend through the brick-work of the chamber-walls and communicate with valves lo, said valves being mounted in suitable seats in the easing d, which is provided with suiti able bearings for the same. The said valves 7c are preferably horizontal valves, having at each end seats or journals and at certain points therein enlarged cylindrical portions k2 to hold them in line and prevent the warping thereof under the high heat and between said bearings and said enlarged portions, the valves being formed at, as shown at Z-that is, of such shape that when turned in one position they close the openings or inlets entirely, and when turned at right angles thereto leave the inlet practically open. The valves may be adjusted to any position between these two, according to the amount of air to be fed to the oil-vapors in the chamber e. The said valves have angular ends la', by which they may be turned and adjusted, as desired, and when heated air is employedsuch as in the apparatus shown in Fig. l-the angular ends 7c of the valves extend out through the furnace-walls, so that they can be properly adj usted. As the oil-supply pipe h, especially the part thereof having the perforations therein, is liable to become gummed with the thicker o r heavier portions of the oil, and there is therefore a liability of the perforations becoming clogged, I arrange within this portion 0f the pipe containing such perforations the spiral cleaner or scraper fn, which corresponds in diameter to the internal diameter of the pipe and has a handle vam enabled to maintain the pipe in proper condition for Working, and to give a free escape from said pipe h when it is cleaned the end h2 thereof is formed open and provided with a valve h3, which maybe opened during the cleaning operation.

In order to heat the air intermingled with the oil-vapor, I provide suitable air-heating apparatus in the stack or escape flue b, Fig. l showing an apparatus suitable for the purpose, such apparatus consisting of the pipes r, passing through the enlarged portion b' above the stack or escape flue. The air-heating pipes may be arranged in said flue in any manner desired. The oil-vaporizing chamber IOO .inclosed within the casing t, as shown, and in order to supply the air to the front series of valves said casing has an extension uover the front portion of the chamber e, forming a flue' or space u therein, through which the air may ow to said valves.

lVhen my improved furnace is in use, it'

may be employed, as above stated, for metallurgical, boiler, or `otherheating purposes, and the oil or other like hydrocarbons are forced under pressure either from an accumulator or by gravity from a tank and dropped or sprayed from the perforations of the pipe h upon the fire-clay balls g in the chamber e,

and said oil continues to percolate downwardly through the openings or interstices between the balls or blocks until it reaches the combustion flue or flues c. In the meantime, the furnace being' properly heated, in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the air in passing through the pipes or fluesris brought to a comparatively high heat, and it then flows through the passages s or u Within the casingt into the upper end of the vaporizingchambereand through the side ports therein, so intermingling with the oil and assisting in the vaporizing thereof, and the oil-vapor and air flow downwardly into the combustioniiues o, a proper mixture forforming combustion being thus obtained. Upon the entrance of the same into the iiues c the oil-vapor is thus burned, combustion being supported by the air intermingled therewith and, if desired, by the air entering through the air-entrance c at the end of the ilues e. A high heat is thus generated, which, on account of the eX- pansion of the gases and the draft through the chimney, is drawn into the heating-chamber ct of the furnace to act upon either the metal therein or the surface of the boiler or for other heating purposes, as may be desired, the fiame and heated gases being ejected from the flue e into the furnacechamber. The heated products then pass through the stack or escape iiue b, and by passing around the air-heating flues r act to heat the ingoing air, and so provide heated air to vaporize the oil, which drops upon and is supported by the fire-clay balls, and to intermingle therewith for the continuation of the operation.

In order to regulate the supply of air to the chamber e, the fines k may be turned to any desired position, and the supply of air through the air-entrance c may be regulated in the same manner. 'When the balls at the base of the chamberbecome highly heated by opening the port d', they can be withdrawn therefrom,

passing onto the platformfand be introduced through the port f into the upper end of the chamber e, so bringing the highly-heated blocks or balls to the upper end of such chamber to assist in vaporizing the oil and permitting those upon which the oil had been dropped inthe higher part of the chamber to descend therein into the hotter part thereof, and finally tothe base of the chamber, where they are exposed to the direct action ofthe iiame and heat in the combustion-fine c, and any tarry or other like matter adhering thereto may be burned therefrom. By the changing of the balls in the manner above described, I am enabled to vaporize the oil more perfectly by the heated balls in the upper part of thecham-` berand to utilize all of the oil for heating purposes, either by the vaporization thereof or by the burning of the same from the balls when exposed to the heat generated in the combustion-fines. In casethe oil-supply pipe h becomes clogged,it can be quickly cleaned by rotat-ing the valve n therein: and, if desired, by passing steam through the same and blowing it out, as above described.

The furnace shown in Fig. 2 is used in practically the same manner, except that there is no heating of the air, the air being drawn through the upper end of the chamber e and through the valve-controlled passages m, and the heat of the mass of balls being maintained by the changing of the same within the chamber e.

By my invention I am enabled to provide for the proper vaporization of the oil as it comes directly from the tank or accumulator,

IOO

the intermingling of the air in proper quantities to support combustion therewith, the regulation of the combustion of said intermingled oil-vapor and air, and the heat of the air, if desired, and this Without the employment of steam for vapor-ization purposes, andl by means of the simple apparatus,which can be operated by unskilled labor, occupies practically no additional room, and can be constructed at a low cost.

l-Vhat I claimas my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`- 1; A furnace having a heating-chamber andv entrance flue or flues at one end thereof and a chamber containing a mass of balls or blocks of refractory material above the flue or fines and having an oil-entrance at the 'upper end above such balls and an air entrance or entrances so as to intermingle the oil and air Within said chamber, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A furnace having a heating-chamber, entrance flue or flues at one end thereof, a chamber containing a mass of balls or blocks of refractory material above the iiues and having an oilentrance at the upper end thereof above such balls, and a series of airentrances in the side walls of such chamber, substantially as and vfor the purposes set forth.

3. AA furnace having a heating-chamber, entrance flue or iues at one end thereof, a

IIS'

chamber containing a mass of balls or blocks of refractory material above the fines, and having an oilentrance at the upper end thereof above such balls, a series of air-entrances in the side walls of such chamber, and valves for controlling said air-entrances, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A furnace having a heating-chamber, entrance iiue or fines at one end thereof, an oilvaporizin g chamber containing a mass of balls or blocks of refractory material above the iiue and having oil and air entrances therein, and an air entrance or entrances to the combustion-fiuesbelowsuchvaporizing-chamber, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A furnace having a heating-chamber, entrance iiue or iiues at one end thereof, an oilvaporizing chamber containing balls or blocks of refractory material above said ilue and having oil and air entrances therein, one or more horizontal air-passages communicating with the entrance end of the flue, and one or more air-passages extending up through the bottom Wall of said fine, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

G. The furnace having the heating-chamber a, combustion-fine c, oil-vaporizing chamber e, having the ports m in the side thereof, and the inclosing-casing z5, communicating with air-heating pipes, and having the extension u', inclosing the front end of the chamber e, so as to feed heated air to the ports thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7 The furnace having the heating-chamber a, combustion-fines c, and the oil-vaporizing chamber e, inclosed Within a casingV communicating with air-h eating pipes, said chamber e having the port CZ at the base thereof for the removal of the refractory balls therein and said enclosing casing t having the port f', for the entrance of said balls to said chamber, subl stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JACOB SCHINNELLER, have hereunto set my hand.

JACOB SCHIN N ELLER.

Vitnesses:

T. J. MCTIGHE,` J. N. COOKE. 

